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It took Rory McIlroy 17 attempts to triumph his first Green Jacket, yet breaking done past year. He is wasting nary clip successful trying to triumph his 2nd Masters title.
McIlroy, 36, changeable a Friday-low 65 to move to 12-under and return a six-shot lead into Saturday. His six-shot lead is nan largest second-round lead successful Masters history.
McIlroy is conscionable nan 4th defending champion to clasp nan 36-hole lead nan twelvemonth aft his victory. Arnold Palmer did it 3 times (1959, 1961, 1965), while Ian Woosnam (1992) and Jordan Spieth (2016) did it once.
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Rory McIlroy waves aft his putt connected nan 13th spread during nan 2nd information of nan Masters Tournament astatine Augusta National Golf Club successful Augusta, Georgia, connected April 10, 2026. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo)
McIlroy is vying to go nan 4th subordinate to triumph nan Masters successful 2 consecutive years. Jack Nicklaus did it successful 1965-66, Nick Faldo successful 1989-90, and Tiger Woods successful 2001-02.
The world No. 2 ended his 2nd information by birdieing six of his past 7 holes. Throughout nan tournament, McIlroy has parred 18 holes, birdied 15 and recorded conscionable 3 bogeys.
McIlroy said he is going to effort to support his ft connected nan gas.
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Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates aft a putt connected nan 16th spread during nan 2nd information of nan Masters Tournament astatine Augusta National Golf Club successful Augusta, Georgia, connected April 10, 2026. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)
"Look, I’ve built up a bully cushion astatine this point," McIlroy said. "I conjecture my mindset is conscionable trying to support playing good and keeping my ft connected nan gas."
Sam Burns and Patrick Reed are tied for second, some astatine 6 under. Justin Rose, who McIlroy defeated successful a thrilling playoff past twelvemonth to triumph nan Masters, is successful a necktie for 4th spot astatine 5 under.
Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood are besides 5 under.
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Rory McIlroy watches his tee changeable connected nan 12th spread during nan 2nd information of nan Masters Tournament astatine Augusta National Golf Club successful Augusta, Georgia, connected April 10, 2026. (Eric Gay/AP Photo)
McIlroy is successful nan last pairing, alongside Burns, and will tee disconnected astatine 2:50 p.m. ET connected Saturday. To support his mind disconnected golf, he will watch immoderate tennis up of his tee time.
"There’s really 2 really bully semifinals astatine Monte Carlo successful nan tennis. So I’ll watch that," McIlroy said. "We’ve been watching nan tennis early successful nan mornings."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ryan Canfield is simply a integer accumulation adjunct for Fox News Digital.
